Courts in Tennessee
| More information on Tennessee's state courts: |
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| Selection methods Elections Salaries Federal courts |
In Tennessee, there are three federal district courts, a state supreme court, a state court of appeals, a state court of criminal appeals, and trial courts of general and limited. These courts serve different purposes, which are outlined in the sections below.
Click a link for information about that court type.
- Federal courts
- State supreme court
- State court of appeals
- State court of criminal appeals
- Trial courts
The image below depicts the flow of cases through Tennessee's state court system. Cases typically originate in the trial courts and can be appealed to courts higher up in the system.
Judicial selection process
- See also: Judicial selection in Tennessee and Tennessee judicial elections
Selection of state court judges in Tennessee varies by court level. Appellate judges are selected using a system of assisted appointment and retention elections. Trial court judges participate in partisan elections, though individual counties have the discretion to instead opt for nonpartisan elections.[1]
While Tennessee state law changed in 2014 to eliminate the judicial nominating commission and require legislative approval of the governor’s appointee, Gov. Bill Haslam’s Executive Order No. 54 and Gov. Bill Lee’s subsequent Executive Order No. 87 re-established the judicial nominating commission for appointments. Accordingly, Tennessee’s process is effectively assisted appointment with legislative confirmation.
To read more about judicial elections in Tennessee, click here.
Federal courts
There are three federal district court in Tennessee. These courts may hear appeals from state courts and is also the point of origination for federal cases and lawsuits. The federal district courts in Tennessee are:
Appeals go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit.
Active judges
Eastern District
| Judge | Appointed By | Assumed Office | Bachelors | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 14, 2003 - |
University of Tennessee, 1978 |
Vanderbilt University School of Law, 1981 |
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| December 10, 2015 - |
University of the South, Sewanee, 1994 |
Vanderbilt University Law School, 1997 |
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| July 22, 2019 - |
James Madison University, 1990 |
William & Mary University, Marshall-Wythe School of law, 1993 |
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| December 22, 2020 - |
University of Tennessee, 1989 |
Samford University, Cumberland School of Law, 1993 |
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| December 22, 2020 - |
Middle Tennessee State University, 2006 |
George Mason University, Antonin Scalia Law School, 2009 |
The list below displays the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president. It does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.
- Democrat appointed: 1
- Republican appointed: 4
Middle District
| Judge | Appointed By | Assumed Office | Bachelors | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 22, 1998 - |
Cornell College, 1968 |
Vanderbilt University Law School, 1976 |
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| April 12, 2016 - |
Vanderbilt University, 1978 |
Vanderbilt University Law School, 1981 |
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| January 12, 2018 - |
United States Naval Academy, 1991 |
University of Alabama School of Law, 2001 |
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| October 18, 2018 - |
Duke University, 1989 |
Vanderbilt University School of Law, 1992 |
The list below displays the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president. It does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.
- Democrat appointed: 2
- Republican appointed: 2
Western District
| Judge | Appointed By | Assumed Office | Bachelors | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2008 - |
University of Tennessee, 1976 |
Memphis State University, 1980 |
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| May 1, 2014 - |
University of Michigan, 1984 |
New York University School of Law, 1987 |
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| January 30, 2018 - |
University of South Carolina, 1985 |
Vanderbilt University School of Law, 1989 |
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| November 8, 2018 - |
Colorado College, 1977 |
University of Denver, 1980 |
The list below displays the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president. It does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.
- Democrat appointed: 1
- Republican appointed: 3
Judicial selection
Judges who sit on the federal district courts are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. These judges serve life terms. To read more about the judges on these courts, click here.
Bankruptcy courts
There are three federal bankruptcy court in Tennessee. These courts have subject-matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. The federal bankruptcy courts in Tennssee are:
- Eastern District of Tennessee Bankruptcy Court
- Middle District of Tennessee Bankruptcy Court
- Western District of Tennessee Bankruptcy Court
State supreme court
- See also: Tennessee Supreme Court
Founded in 1870, the Tennessee Supreme Court is the state's court of last resort and has five judgeships. The current chief of the court is Holly Kirby. In 2018, the court decided 1,003 cases.
As of September 2024, five judges on the court were appointed by a Republican governor.
The following judges sit on the court:
| Office | Name | Party | Date assumed office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Supreme Court Eastern Section | Dwight Tarwater | Nonpartisan | September 1, 2023 |
| Tennessee Supreme Court Middle Section | Jeff Bivins | Nonpartisan | July 15, 2014 |
| Tennessee Supreme Court Middle Section | Sarah Campbell | Nonpartisan | February 10, 2022 |
| Tennessee Supreme Court Western Section | Holly Kirby | Nonpartisan | September 1, 2014 |
| Tennessee Supreme Court Western Section | Mary L. Wagner | Nonpartisan | September 1, 2024 |
State court of appeals
Court of appeals
- See also: Tennessee Court of Appeals
The Tennessee Court of Appeals is an intermediate appellate court in Tennessee. It hears appeals of civil cases; the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals hears appeals of criminal cases.
The following judges sit on the court:
| Judge | Tenure | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|
|
January 14, 2009 - Present |
Phil Bredesen |
|
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February 14, 2013 - Present |
Bill Haslam |
|
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August 3, 2020 - Present |
Bill Lee |
|
|
1999 - Present |
Gov. Don Sundquist (R) |
|
|
June 9, 2008 - Present |
Phil Bredesen |
|
|
2019 - Present |
Bill Lee |
|
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March 24, 2025 - Present |
Bill Lee |
|
|
September 1, 2014 - Present |
Bill Haslam |
|
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September 1, 2022 - Present |
Bill Lee |
|
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May 29, 2014 - Present |
Bill Haslam |
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2003 - Present |
Phil Bredesen |
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September 18, 2007 - Present |
Phil Bredesen |
Court of criminal appeals
- See also: Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals
The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals is an intermediate appellate court in Tennessee. Established in 1967, it hears appeals of only criminal cases in the state. Appeals of civil cases are heard by the Tennessee Court of Appeals.[2]
The following judges sit on the court:
| Judge | Tenure | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|
|
September 1, 2022 - Present |
Bill Lee |
|
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September 1, 2022 - Present |
Bill Lee |
|
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March 24, 2025 - Present |
Bill Lee |
|
|
September 1, 2014 - Present |
Bill Haslam |
|
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August 21, 2014 - Present |
Bill Haslam |
|
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September 1, 2014 - Present |
Bill Haslam |
|
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August 30, 2021 - Present |
Bill Lee |
|
|
2000 - Present |
Gov. Don Sundquist (R) |
|
|
April 18, 2016 - Present |
Bill Haslam |
|
|
1999 - Present |
Phil Bredesen |
|
|
February 10, 2022 - Present |
Bill Lee |
|
|
March 9, 2023 - Present |
Bill Lee |
Trial courts
Chancery courts
- See also: Tennessee Chancery Courts
The Tennessee Chancery Courts are trial courts of general jurisdiction in Tennessee. In general, they share jurisdiction with the Tennessee Circuit Courts. There is a chancery court in each of the state's 32 judicial districts.[3]
Circuit court
- See also: Tennessee Circuit Court
Tennessee circuit courts are trial courts of general jurisdiction in Tennessee. There is a circuit court in each of the state's 32 judicial districts.
Criminal court
- See also: Tennessee Criminal Court
Tennessee Criminal Courts are trial courts with jurisdiction over criminal matters in Tennessee. They may also hear misdemeanor appeals from lower courts. There are criminal courts in 13 of Tennessee's 32 judicial districts, and 33 criminal court judges. In districts without a criminal court, criminal cases are heard by the circuit courts.[4]
Probate court
- See also: Tennessee Probate Court
Tennessee Probate Courts are courts with "exclusive jurisdiction over probate of wills and administration of estates. The courts also handle conservatorships and guardianships" in Tennessee. The Thirtieth Judicial District in Shelby County is the only district with a Probate Court. Judges of these courts serve eight-year terms.[5][4]
Courts of limited jurisdiction
General sessions court
- See also: Tennessee General Sessions Court
The General Sessions Court is a court in Tennessee with limited jurisdiction that varies from county to county. Each county has a court which hears civil and criminal cases. Civil jurisdiction is limited to specific monetary limits and types of actions. Criminal jurisdiction is restricted to preliminary hearings in felony cases and misdemeanor trials in which a defendant waives the right to a grand jury investigation and trial by jury in Circuit or Criminal Court. Judges of the General Sessions Courts also serve on the Juvenile Court of their respective counties, except in counties with separate Juvenile Courts. Judges are elected to eight-year terms.[6]
Juvenile court
- See also: Tennessee Juvenile Court
The Juvenile Court is a court in Tennessee that has exclusive jurisdiction in cases involving minors. These courts also have concurrent jurisdiction with Circuit, Chancery and Probate Courts in certain areas. Judges serve eight-year terms.[7][8]
Municipal court
- See also: Tennessee Municipal Court
The Tennessee Municipal Court has jurisdiction over violations of city ordinances, and a municipal court judge has the power to assess fines up to $50 generally, but up to $500 in certain cases. These courts are also known as city courts and their jurisdiction varies from city to city in Tennessee.[9]
In other states
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Tennessee," archived September 11, 2014
- ↑ Tennessee State Courts, "About the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals," archived September 17, 2021
- ↑ Tennessee State Courts, "About the Trial Courts," archived November 10, 2022
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Tennessee State Courts, "Trial Court Judges," accessed March 3, 2021
- ↑ Tennessee State Courts, "About the Trial Courts"
- ↑ Tennessee State Courts, "About General Sessions Courts," archived May 26, 2022
- ↑ Tennessee State Courts, "Municipal Courts," accessed February 4, 2015
- ↑ Article VI, Tennessee Constitution, Section 4
- ↑ Tennessee State Courts, "Municipal Courts," archived November 10, 2022
Federal courts:
Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Tennessee, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Tennessee, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee
State courts:
Tennessee Supreme Court • Tennessee Court of Appeals • Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals • Tennessee Circuit Court • Tennessee Chancery Courts • Tennessee Criminal Court • Tennessee Probate Court • Tennessee General Sessions Court • Tennessee Juvenile Court • Tennessee Municipal Court
State resources:
Courts in Tennessee • Tennessee judicial elections • Judicial selection in Tennessee
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